Gustard U12 USB Interface 8 Core XMOS chip

[rb2013]

  http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=176 
 
anyone try this HDMI i2s interface? looks interesting to me. low jitter spec, not sure the clocks though.
 
 
Introduction 
This is the UH1 without the DAC part. It is a pure high quality USB to i2s/DSD (over HDMI), COAX and OPT. This also has i2s/HDMI input (HDMI to USB)
It is based on the Savitech SA9227 asynchronous USB receiver clocked by two TCXO oscillators.
Two quality TCXO are used as the master clock to control the timing. This asynchronous USB transfer mode will give this device the responsibility to clock the data transfer instead of of your computer which has a clock of lesser quality with more noise and jitter introduced.
It accepts up to 384kHz sample rates and 16/24/32 bit. No drivers are necessary on MAC and linux computers! On Windows it can work without drivers up to 96kHz/24bit and with ASIO drivers up to 384/32. (Note that not all programs support ASIO). There is a switch that switches between Low and High sample rate mode. When set to Low, it works up to 96/24 with no drivers needed in Windows.
It utilises the USB port for power, so no external power supply is required. Also the outputs and inputs are ground isolated from USB.

Windows driver:
Download here (updated april 16th). New driver supports Win 10 here.
SPECIFICATIONS
Inputs:
USB INPUT:

1. Asynchronous USB transfer with two TCXO as master clock
2. USB receiver Savitech SA9227
3. Inputs are ground isolated from USB
4. Supported sample rates: 32, 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192, 352.8 and 384kHz
5. Supported bitrates: 16, 24 and 32 bits
6. Works in either Full speed or High Speed USB transfer mode selectable with a switch ("L" "H"). No drivers required in MAC/Linux in both full and high speed modes. Windows ASIO needs drivers for High Speed mode only.
7. We are using two (expensive) TCXO to act as master clock.  45.1584MHz for 44.1, 88.2, 176.4, 352.8MHz sample rates, and  49.152MHz for 32,48, 96, 192, 384kHz sample rates. The USB transfer is clocked by the TCXO directly. This is better than PLL async mode and offers close to zero jitter. PLL async mode has ~30ps jitter, which is already quite low, but not as good as when clocked from TCXO directly.

SPDIF/OPTICAL/i2s(HDMI) INPUT:

1. To USB/computer only! It doesn't convert i2s to the COAX/SPDIF outputs.
2. SPDIF Support samples rates up to 192kHz and 16/24/32 bit.

Outputs:
DIGITAL OUTPUTS:

1. DSD/I2S using HDMI port. Here is a linked drawing with the pinout for DSD and I2s. Note - this It not compatible with "normal" HDMI devices. The HDMI port is only used as a convenient connector and a way to send i2s balanced which improves signal quality. The DSD signal is also balanced. The pinout is made so that there is no harm done if you should connect it to a normal HDMI device.
2. Optical output
3. Coaxial output​
4. Outputs are ground isolated from USB

Size: 85x70x24mm
mod: ud227
- See more at: http://hifimediy.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=176#sthash.iMyiAwhQ.dpuf
 

 

Wow looks interesting.  First time I have heard of Savitech SA992 reciever.  Any nudies?

 

[rb2013]

Found them - nothing exceptional - std Chinese OEM TXCO clocks.  Elcheapo clock for USB.
 
I guess the only thing unqie is that Savitech:
 

 

[ahendler]

Got the Breeze I2S to work with myMaster 7. Sounds excellent. Similar to the Melius
Alan

 

[rb2013]

  Got the Breeze I2S to work with myMaster 7. Sounds excellent. Similar to the Melius
Alan

Nice - any tricks?

 

[crazychile]

So I understand that the Melodius is repored to be better than the U12. But howmuch better? If the Melodius were scored as a 100 as a reference, what number would be assigned to the U12?

The reason I ask is because I want to try running usb to AES/EBU to run into a Yggdrasil when I get one in the near future. I don't want to spend much to try this, and The Melodius isn't currently available in silver. The rest of my gear is silver so I would like to avoid a black box in the rack. I don't have any desire to mod either converter, but I will be able to use a Regen to feed whatever box I choose. If the Gustard is really close in performance, I'd just go for that. If the Melodius is heads above, I may just wait until silver is available.

 

[rb2013]

So I understand that the Melodius is repored to be better than the U12. But howmuch better? If the Melodius were scored as a 100 as a reference, what number would be assigned to the U12?

The reason I ask is because I want to try running usb to AES/EBU to run into a Yggdrasil when I get one in the near future. I don't want to spend much to try this, and The Melodius isn't currently available in silver. The rest of my gear is silver so I would like to avoid a black box in the rack. I don't have any desire to mod either converter, but I will be able to use a Regen to feed whatever box I choose. If the Gustard is really close in performance, I'd just go for that. If the Melodius is heads above, I may just wait until silver is available.

Hi, Well first off - congrats on the Yggy - what a beauty!  Big fan of R2R DACs and with the tech Schiit put in that beast - I bet sounds amazing.
 
Second - I have not heard the new 'redesigned' Melodious.  I had lots of issues with a couple of the Melodious I bought and won't be trying their latest creation.
 
Third of the two - I would buy neither.  I would get a Breeze Audio DU-U8 - it is cheaper and sound betters (at least in my two systems) and comes in silver.
The Breeze has AES/EBU outputs.  I have had several of each - even modding the U12 and Melodious  - the DU-U8 crushes them.  I even had a Hydra Z fed by a linear power supply after my living with the U12 and the MX-U8 and it bettered both.  Then the Breeze blew in and that Z was sold.
 
Here would be my ranking and ratings:
 
Breeze DU-U8 (Talema version)             98
Breeze DU-U8 (BingZi version)               95
Hydra Z with LPS                                     92
Melodious MX-U8 (upgraded caps)         85
Melodious MX-U8 (stock)                        81
Gustard U12 (upgraded caps)                 76
Gustard U12 stock                                   72
iDAC DAC2 (used as a DDC)                  65
Musiland USB3.0 US Dragon                  65
M2Tech EVO with LPS                            60
Audiophileo 2                                           50
M2Tech Hiface                                         40
 
 
Note be sure to ask the seller for the Talema transformer upgrade it's only a few dollars more.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141026791919?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
There is another candidate with AES - the PUC2 Lite - AES only.  I have heard good things about it, but so far have not tried it.
http://www.stereotimes.com/post/yellowtec-puc2-lite-usb-converter/
 
Good luck and report your results.
 
Cheers!

 

 

[MINORISUKE]

  .....
 
Breeze DU-U8 (Talema version)             98
Breeze DU-U8 (BingZi version)               95
Hydra Z with LPS                                     92
Melodious MX-U8 (upgraded caps)         85
Melodious MX-U8 (stock)                        81
.....

Thanks for your evaluation.  I wonder if MX-U8 ver1.7 would beat DU-U8.  Mr. Liu at Melodious must be aware of his competitor Breeze.  If DU-U8 is with DSDOE (DSD/PCM indicator) in I2S, I will be interested.....

 

[phile1]

  Good luck and report your results.

Hi rb2013,
This is  a result I don't like...
 
I prefer streamers, because no need of an optimized PC and so on, and all reviews stand & confirm it sounds better than computer-usb-interface setups.
Thus my premium source is a ethernet based streamer : the Edel NMR board (used in many high end streamers ; here is the link : http://www.engineered.ch/audio/network-interface/ )
 
I received the Breeze a few days ago, long burning done. (Telema version, the "posh" version at top high price !!)
Today I compared it to the Gustard U12 (stock version), I confirm the Breeze is better, 
But I found the gap is less than in your ranking.
 
2 "special" features on my Breeze setup :
- USB cable : I use the Corning 3.Optical (10m version).
- I put a Schaffner filter on the power cable of the Breeze. This one => http://eu.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=0virtualkey0virtualkeyFN2090-1-06 ; it helps a lot to clean any harshness.
 
So, I compared my streamer (supposed to be a very good one) with the Breeze => really close.
So close that I wonder which one is the best, so I'll have to do the testing again with more tracks.
 
Did someone compare the Breeze with a good streamer ? I have a trouble with my streamer or the Breeze is really good ?
 
I tested the coax & toslink output of the Breeze : equal.
Are the AES & i2s better ?
 
I'm really confused right now. Till now all ethernet based sources were far ahead the PC>usb>interface... and today it is roughly equal or better I don't know. A bit weird ! 

Rgds
 
EDIT : sorry I forgot to mention that my laptop is absolutly not optimized for audio. It is just a good laptop (i7, 1 yr old), for multi-purpose use.

 

[crazychile]

Cheaper,better, and in silver. I like that. Thanks.

Any options besides Fleabay? I haven't done Fleabay in almost a decade. (Gasp)
I guess I don't really have objections since the seller seems reputable......

 

[panhead]

The new version of the Melodious arrived yesterday.    So far after 24hrs on I would say the new Melodious is better,   maybe a bit quieter and more fleshed out than the Breeze.   However this is NOT a fair comparison as the servers are somewhat different.     This is just a preliminary opinion but so far I have enjoyed the sound.......
 
The case is about 2/3 the size of the previous version and seems somewhat heavier.    Seems to have the same I/O.   I look forward to other opinions.

 

[bimmer100]

i'm all over this.
 
http://audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/DIU8/DIU8EN.htm
 
the new DIU8 audio-gd DDC.

 

[Khragon]

The HDMI output on this one is compatible with the M11 right?

 

[rb2013]

Cheaper,better, and in silver. I like that. Thanks.

Any options besides Fleabay? I haven't done Fleabay in almost a decade. (Gasp)
I guess I don't really have objections since the seller seems reputable......

AliExpress - seems better now then it used to be for US buyers.  Cheaper - but no buyer protection.

 

[rb2013]

  The new version of the Melodious arrived yesterday.    So far after 24hrs on I would say the new Melodious is better,   maybe a bit quieter and more fleshed out than the Breeze.   However this is NOT a fair comparison as the servers are somewhat different.     This is just a preliminary opinion but so far I have enjoyed the sound.......
 
The case is about 2/3 the size of the previous version and seems somewhat heavier.    Seems to have the same I/O.   I look forward to other opinions.

I think the new Melodious now has BNC out that the older version didn't have.

 

[rb2013]

  i'm all over this.
 
http://audio-gd.com/Pro/dac/DIU8/DIU8EN.htm
 
the new DIU8 audio-gd DDC.

Nice looking unit - $350 is getting up there.  But if it sounds great - what's a few hundred dollars!
 
Anybody recognize these clocks?  SiTime?